Wood-distilling apparatus.



G. WALKER.

WOOD DISTILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29,1908.

904,165. Patented Nov. 17 1908:

3 SHEETS-SHE l l QVihmPu /(ZZ 60L 2g I I 1 a k a a G. WALKER. WOOD DISTILLING APPARATUS.

APPLIQATION FILED MAY 29, 1908.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908,

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2 A noznfoz G. WALKER. WOOD DISTILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29,1908.

904, 165. Patented Nov. 17; 1908.

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45/ w gy/ lnvenfoz GEORGE WALKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WOOD-DISTILLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Now 17, 190s.

Application filed May 29, 1908. Serial No. 435,848.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE \VALKER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVood Distilling Apparatus, whereof the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to wood distilling apparatus; and comprises a wood distilling retort and setting mutually related to permit a good Circulation of heat around said retort while also providing for expansion and contraction and also comprises certain improved details 9f said'retort and setting; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed,

In what is known as the retort process of distilling wood and other vegetable mate.- rials to obtain valuable products therefrom, the wood is placed in a retort and gradually heated by fire heat until it. loses water vapor and accompanying volatile bodies and then undergoes pyrolytic decomposition or what is known as destructive distillation, yielding acetic and other acids, creosote, methyl alcohol, acetone, methyl acetone, tar and tar oils and many other products, together with considerable amounts of combustible gas. In the case of coniferous woods, the steam first evolved is accompanied by tur pentine and in the subsequent pyrolysis, the contained rosin and resins yield rosin oils, etc. After the destructive distillation is completed, the residue inthe retort is charcoal. The combustible gas and part of the charcoal are used tor'heatiiig the retort in subsequent operations.

In thestated operation, the retort is ex posed to a wide range of temperatures, be ginning cold and running up to temperatures in the neighborhood of a red heat, and while it is desirable of course to provide a good circulation ,offlame gases about the retort to give evenness of heating yet the great "expansion and contraction which the retort undergoes prevent the usual arrangement of brickwork .fiues' employed with boilers and tlie--like. It is not advisable to set such a retort snugly against a masonry wall at any point. i

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a setting which will give such circulation while providing for expansion and contraction and it is a further'obect to provide for an even, well distributed cat by means cooperating with the circulatory means. To this end, the retort, which may have the form of a simple cylinder, is laterally provided with T'or Liron flanges atlixed thereto while the masonry setting is provided with projecting plates upon which such flanges are slidably supported. Flanges and plates together form a flue septum extending the length of the retort and giving a fire fiue above such septum and another below the same, both fines operating to heat the retort. The lateral flanges resting slidably on the lates, expansion and contraction are provided for. The retort body may advantageously be constructed of a sheet of boiler plate, of, say, inch iron or steel, bent into a cylinder with the plate edges in abutting contact. A piece of T or L iron with the head riveted or otherwise secured to the plate on either side of the abutting ctintact serves at once to close the joint andt'o furnish one of the described flan es Wtile a similar strip riveted to the cyIincler in a line diametrically opposite furnishes the other flange.

In use, wood retorts tend to burn through on the side-next the firing means, andfparticularly it direct impingement of flame be permitted, and the described type of retort is especially useful for this reason since the top and. bottom can be ea 'ly reversedwhen the latter begins to bur through, thereby adding materially to the life of the retort. Being cylindrical, the top and'bottoin are alike, and the flanges being diametrically opposite function equally well in either position of the retort. It is of course necessary that the vapors be-led off from a oint above the bottom in either position 0 the retort and iii the embodiment here preferred, this i'csult'is secured by providing the end wall of the cylinder with a pair of openings adapted to engage a vapor conduit, the lower one in either position of the retort being capped It being desirable, as stated to sparethe retort the direct impingement of flame, be low the retort there is provided amasoiiry arch extending its full length and provided with ports giving communication between the firing means and the flue formed'between the retort, the angle irons and said arch, these ports being set at intervals along the length of the arch and passing therethrough in a direction more or to tlie'retort walls. This prevents flame coming into dir'ect'contact with the retort bottom. The firing means may bean ordiless tangential nary grate and in addition thereto gas burners for utilizing the stated combustible gases. These burners should be set in pairs in such manner that the flames from each pair will mutually impinge upon each other, giving a battled flame, and further preventing flame impingement. on the retort bot-tom,

In the accompanying illustration 1 have shown, more or less diagrammatically, a wood distilling apparatus according to the present invention embodying the stated im provements as well as others, to be more specifically described hereinafter.

In this showing Figure 1 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in transverse vertical section, of a bank of retorts (four are shown) and their setting; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of a single retort and its setting; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of a bank of retorts and attached condenser; Fig.4 is asii nilar View of a double bank oi retorts and condenser; and Figs. 5,

6 and T are detail views of the closure for the fore end of the retort.

Referring tirst-to Fig. 1, A, B, C and D are four similar retorts, A being shown with door 1 in place. Each retort is made of a sheet 2 of boiler iron bent into a cylinder with edges abutting and joining at 3. Over this joint is secured a piece of angle iron 4 (shown as an L iron), which closes the joint and provides a projecting lateral flange 5. On the opposite side of the retort is a similar angle iron 6, providing another projecting flange. Each retort is mounted in a masonry housing 7, with a dividing Wall 8 between each pair of retorts. Through this wall extends a plate 9, a similar plate being in the end wall 10 of the housing, and on these plates the flanges rest slidably.

. Flanges and plates together form flue setpa 'r bank extending longitudinally of the reterts and dividing the inclosing chamber into upper and lower lines 11 and 12. At the fore and rear ends (see Fig. 2), the retorts rest on rollers 13, supported on plates 14, thus providing for longitudinal expansion.

ielow each retort is a fire chamber 15, surmounted by an arch 16, prrforated with ports 17, set tangentially to the retort walls abov Double tiring means are provided.

consi-'-ting of grate 1S and double oppoing,

gas burnt-rs ll fed by pipes 20 extending backward to gas main 21, common to the of retorts. The flames burn -rs meet and oppose, producing perfect combustion in the tire chamber and sending well mixed llaiuc gases upward through the tangential ports along the walls of the retort without production of a lame impinging on the bottom thereof. The hot gases )ass )Zl-..l{\\'ltl(l along the bottom of the retort below the described line septa to rear flue 2Q behind tin: retort and thence forward above the line septa to cro s fine 23, common to the from these I Whole bank, the exit. being controlled by damper 24, and thence to exit throu h/s' taek 25.

Each retort provided (see big. 2) with an a. pipe 26 communicating with steam inai'n 27 common to the bank. Being axial this pipe does not.- prevent the described is versal of the retort. This pipe permits the introduction of steam to aid in the distillation, if desired. Each retort is further provided with a vapor pipe 28, tapped into its -upper portion. These pipes communicate with vapor main 29, common to, the bank. The rear end of the retort, is further pr" vided with a blank and capped perforation 30 so that when the bottom of the retortfbecomes burned in usethe retort may have its top and bottom reversed, the vapor pipe now entering through 30 and the perforation through which it formerly communicated being capped. The flanges of the angle irons of course act equally well as fine septa and supports in either position of the retort. This expedient adds materially to the life of the retort.

To provide a closure for the front end of the retort, adaptable for use in eitherposition of said retort, an iron ring 31 is secured thereto, as by rivets This rin extends somewhat beyond the end of thedescribed cylinder and carries a V-ed groove 33, containing packing material 34 (shown as asbestos rope), on its forward face (see Fig. 5). -This ring further carries pairs'of depending lugs 35, through which is passed a pivot 36. Mounted on this is a swinging bolt 37, carrying nut 38. The door (1) is provided with corresponding slots 39 (see Fig. land l ig. 5), into which the bolts pass, permitting the nut to engage the door. The door is provided with a rounded annular flange 40 engaging the packing in the groove (33). By the described means the door can be made to give an easily engaged and dis engaged gas-tight closure in either position of the retort.

To provide for removing the door in filling and emptying the retort, the door has a ring or similar device 41 at the top, engaging a hook 42 carried by a turnbuckle 43 depending froin trolley wheel 4-4. running on a rail 45 above the retort. By discngag'iupthe nuts on the swinging bolts. the door can be run forward away from the retort and out of the way, leaving the mouth of the retort open and free. i

lit-practice, two banks of retorts, each having five rctorts, are usually mounted back to back Fig. 4) with separate condensers mounted in a common condenser tanked supplied with water through inlet t? and emptied through outlet 48. in Fig. 3, a single bank of rctorts is shown with an individual condenser tank. The condenser is formed of a plurality of pipe sections sup ported in the tank; as shown of tour sec loo " tions, respectively 49, 50, 51 and Section 49 communicates at its forward end with the vapor main through connection at its rear end with 50 while 50 at its other end communicates with 51, and 51 at its rear end with 52. The forward end of 51 has a connection 54 leading to collecting tanks and gas Withdrawal means (not shown). Each successive section is smaller in d ameter. if the vapor main be a 1'2 inch pipe, the first condenser section may be it) inch, the second,-

8 inch, the third, 6-inch and the fourth 4 inch. 'lhesesections may be laid in substantially the same plane. or with but little inclination. the diminution in size causing condensates to teed torward tro1n ouescc-- tion into another.

The described wood distilling apparatus may of course be employed with any kind of wood, whether hardwood or coniferous wood, or with any kind oi vegetable or other matter yielding valuable products upon dis-v tillation. The described firing means in combination with the tangentially perfoirated arch 1G and the type of circulation provided by the flanged flue septa insure an even, Well distributed heating of the retort and contents, preventing any localized overheating which will be detril'nental to the retort, or to 'the distillation operation, and much retarding the burning of the bottom of sai v retort.- And when such lmrning does begin to take place, the retort may, as stated, he simply reversed, top for bottom. The steam pipe shown materially aids in control ling temperatures and keeping them below a dangerous point, and particularly in 'thc first part of the distillation. In distilling resinous woods, such as coniferous woods, generally yield considerab e turpentine in the first pt rt. oi the distillation before true destructive distillation set in, and introduction otsome steam is here useful.

Firing may be either by the grate or by the gas burners, or, and usually, by both, the preliminary heating being by fuel, such as charcoal, on the grate and being sent to the burners when it begins to pass through the condensers in the further heating to produce destructive distillation. The combustible from the condensers may of course be stored and used for the preliminary heating, or the trom one bank of retorts may he used to heat the other.

- lihat I claim is:

1. A wood distilling apparatus comprising a reversible cylindrical retort carrying dian'ietrically opposite lateral supporting flanges, a. surrounding heating chamber, longitudinal projecting plates mounted in the. wall of such chamber on which such flanges are slidably supported, (hinges and plates cooperating to form flue septa. in such chamber, a flue at the baclco't su ch retort establishing communication between the upper and lower fines formed bysuch septa, means for withdrawing waste gases from the upper line and means for furnishing flame gases to the lower flue. Y

2. wood distilling apparatus comprising arreversiblc cylindrical retort having a body of sheet metal bent in cylindrical form with meeting edges, a strip of angle iron secured tolthe body over such meeting edges to close the joint and form a lateral support"- ing flange, a strip of angle iron secured to the oppositc side of such body to form a cor-' responding flange, a' heating chamber surrounding such retort, longitudinal projecting plates mounted in the walls of such chamber on which such flanges are. slidably supported, such flanges and plates cooperating to form flue septa dividing such heating chamber into upper and lower tlucs, a vertical line at the back of such retort establishing communication between such upper and lower fines, means for witlulrawing waste gases from the upper flue and means for furnishing flame gases to the lower line.

3. A wood distilling apparatus comprising a reversible cylindricz-il retort carrying lateral supporting flanges, a surrounding heating chamber, longitudinal projecting plates mounted in the walls of such chamber on'which such flanges are slidably supported, such flanges and plates cotiperating to form 'flue septa dividing such heating chamberinto upper and lower flucs. means For withdrawing waste gases from the upper flue, a lower all tor the lower line carrying perforations therethrough tangential to the walls'o't said retort. and tiring means be low such lower wall.

4. In a wood distilling apparatus, a reversible :GiTOIl comprising a body of sheet metal curved into cylindrical shape with meeting edges. an angle iron strip secured over such meeting edges to close the joint and afford 'a supporting lateral projecting flange and tlWHllO angle iron strip secured to the diametrically opposite side of said body to attord a corresponding lateral projecting flange. 5. A wood distilling apparatus comprising a reversible cylindrical rctmrt provided with two diametrically opposite lateral flanges, a heating chamber surrounding said retort and having a projecting lateral incmber opposite each such flange on which such flanges are slidably supported and means for furnishing heat to such chamber.

6. A wood distilling apparatus compris ing a reversible cylindrical retort provided with two diametrically opposite lateral flanges, a heating chamber surronm'ling such retort and extending back of the same, continuous projecting lateral members in the wall of such chamber opposite such flanges. slidably supporting the same and cooperat ing therewith to form flue septa dividing such flame chamber into upper and lower l'lues communicating back of such retort, means for withdrawing waste gases from the upper line and means for Furnishing heating gases to the lower flue.

7. A. wood distilling apparatus-comprising a cylindrical retort, a surrounding heating chamber, longitudinal flue septa dividing such chamber into upper and lower tines, a vertical line establishing communication betweensuch tines back of the retort, a perforated lower wall for the lower flue having its perforations tangential. to the cylindrical walls of the retort and firing means below such perforated wall.

8. In a wood distilling apparatus, a reversible retort comprising a cylindrical body of sheet-metal, means for supporting such body with either side up, a rear closure for such body, a metal ring surrounding the mouth of such body and provided with a circumferential series of swinging bolts and a non-reversible door provided with a corresponding circumferential series of slots adapted to engage such swinging bolts.

9. In a wood distilling apparatus, a reversible horizontal cylindrical retort, a nonreversible vertical door adapted to be clamped to the mouth of such retort in either position thereof, a rail extending outward above such door and traversing means upon such rail engaging such door. v

10. In a wood distilling apparatus, a reversible horizontal cylindrical retort having lateral flanges for supporting the same in a heating chamber, said retort being provided with an axial steam pipe and having two perforations near opposite sides of said retort, one such perforation carrying a vapor delivery pipe and the other perforation be ing capped.

11. In a wood distilling apparatus, a horizontal cylindrical retort, a heatingchamber surrounding the same and gas firing means communicating with such chamber at points removed from the bottom of said retort, said gas firing means comprising a fire chamber provided with pairs of opposite gas burners and said gas burners being set to produce meeting flames, whereby combustion'is substantially completed in said fire chamber prior to entry of the flame gases to said heating chamber.

12. In a wood distilling apparatus, a revers' i e cylindrical retort mounted in a housing and spaced apart therefrom to form an annular heating chamber around said retort, lateral supporting flanges on said retort slidably supported on said housing and operating to support the retort and divide such heating chamber into upper and lower fines, means for withdrawing waste fire gases from the upper flue, means for establishing communication between upper and lower fines and means for supplying flame gases to the lower fine in a direction tangential to the 'walls of the retort.

13. In a wood distilling apparatus, a re- \ersible cylindrical retort, a clamping door for the mouth of said retort"; a doubly perforated wall for the rear end of said retort,

,one perforation carrying a vapor pipe and the other being capped, anaxial steam pipe entering through said wall, diametrically opposite lateral flanges on the said retort, a heating chamber surrounding the retort, means on the walls of such chamber for slidably supporting such flanges and means for furnishing heating gases to said heating chamber.

14. In a wood distilling apparatus, a reversible cylindrical retort, horizontally mounted in an annular heating chamber on a yielding lateral support along its median line on either side. such support dividing such heating chamber into semi-annuli above and below the retort and communicating at its rear, a fire chamber below the heating chamber and structurally separate therefrom, gasfiring means in such fire chamber adapted to produce a substantially complete combustion of gas therein, and means for delivering the products of combustion from the fire chamber into the lower semi-annulus of the heating chamber at a point removed from the bottom of the retort.

In testimony whereof, I atlix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE WALKER. Witnesses CHARLES SArvIs, Jacon J. Dennis. 

